By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
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Italian Soccer Serie A

Here are the declarations of new AC Milan player Alessandro Florenzi transferring from AS Roma on an initial loan deal, with the option to make the transfer permanent. Florenzi has signed for AC Milan until 30 June 2022 and will wear the number 25 shirt.  The announcement was made on Saturday 21 August 2021.   Here are Florenzi’s declarations during the press conference.

ARRIVAL AND AMBITIONS
“I’ve found a club that is well-prepared and set up very well. Over the years, I’ve dealt with very organised clubs and AC Milan is one of them. There’s always something to learn; I’m used to learning by observing, and I’ll do it here with AC Milan too, the team that wanted me the most of all. Throughout Rossoneri history, the minimum goal is to try to play in the Champions League every year. That’s what the Club has set itself up for, it’s what the fans want and it’s what us players will try to achieve no matter what. I’ll try to help the Club get back the place it deserves.”

ROLE ON THE PITCH
“We started talking to the Coach this morning about my position. It’ll take time to settle in – I don’t think it will take long – but wherever I’ve been I’ve always made myself available, and with AC Milan I’ll do the same whatever my position on the pitch. The important thing is to help the club achieve its goals; the badge on the shirt is always more important than the name on its back. I feel I have to make it difficult for the Coach to decide the line-up every week. I like playing, I love football. It’s a passion that I’ve managed to turn into the best job in the world, and where I play on the pitch doesn’t make a difference.”

WHAT FLORENZI BRINGS TO THE TABLE
“I’m not looking for revenge, I think this team wanted me because they believe in what I can bring to the group. I believe I can do well, I can assure that I’ll give my all every day for this Club. My story’s not a secret, but now I’m in a team that has faith in me and that’s the most important thing. I needed it, and AC Milan are the Club that put the most trust in me.”

PHYSICAL CONDITION
“I don’t think I’m ready for 90 minutes, I trained with the squad and I’ve arrived following a period when I was training differently to the team’s pace. I’ll need some time to adjust my physical condition, but I’m sure I’ll be ready soon. I’m at the Coach’s disposal, whether it’s for one, ten, 45 or 90 minutes.”

NEW SERIE A SEASON
“It could be the best season in years. There are seven excellent teams with seven great coaches. We’ll try to have our say, displaying humility and great determination in the process. It’ll come down to the details in the league this season, and, starting from Monday, we need to be prepared and look for a victory to start the campaign well. All of the top seven can challenge to achieve something important. I want to take things one game at a time, but, in our heads, there needs to be the objective of winning every match we play.”

THE ROSSONERI AND THE AZZURRI
“The thing that Italy and AC Milan have in common is the significant number of high-quality youngsters in the respective squads. Coach Pioli is well-prepared, attentive and dedicated to the cause. The two teams play in a different way, but there isn’t just one single winning formula.”

MEETING WITH THE CLUB
“Massara has known me a long time, I was young but really wanted to make an impact. He watched me grow. When I saw Maldini, it was a great feeling. He was able to make our conversation a normal one in an effortless manner. I had the same feeling as when I met Francesco (Totti), Daniele (De Rossi) and other big names for the first time.”

MAXIMUM COMMITMENT
“I’ve spoken to Alessio (Romagnoli) a bit, we’ll be able to chat more in the upcoming days. We’re all looking ahead to Monday; we want to let the facts speak and do our talking on the pitch. We’ll need to be fierce, trying to implement our game from the get-go in the process. From what I’ve seen today, this will be our goal. Davide (Calabria) is an excellent player. Many games are coming up, and the Coach will decide who he thinks can give more. Competition for places can be good for both of us, with this applying to other positions too. In order to enjoy a great season, you need to have 22 starters who are ready to recognise that eleven take to the pitch and five substitutes are available. This is key. Commitment must always be at the maximum level.”

Photo via twitter.com/acmilan

By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A

Alessandro Florenzi  is being presented via acmilan.com

Alessandro was born in Rome on 11 March 1991 and, after stints at Axa Calcio and Lodigiani, became part of Roma’s youth setup at the age of eleven. Wearing Giallorosso, he progressed through the ranks of youth football and captained Roma’s Primavera side to the Scudetto title in 2011, a season which saw him score 15 times. In the same year, he made his debut in Serie A, coming on to replace Totti against Sampdoria. The following campaign saw him experience Serie B football following a loan move to Crotone, where he netted eleven times in 35 matches and won the Serie B Young Player of the Year award. Then, on the orders of Zdeněk Zeman, he returned to Roma and had no trouble establishing himself as a starter, also managing to bag his first Serie A goal (against Inter at San Siro).

Between 2011 and January 2020, he made 279 appearances for Roma, scoring 28 times. His best finish was undoubtedly his first-ever goal in the Champions League: his wonder strike against Barcelona in September 2015 was shortlisted for the Puskás Award. Florenzi’s spell at the Giallorossi finished with two loan moves abroad. First, he played 14 times for Valencia during the second half of the 2019/20 campaign. Then, last season, he took to the pitch for Paris Saint-Germain, making 36 appearances, scoring two goals and winning the French Super Cup and French Cup.

Florenzi has also enjoyed a successful career on the international stage. He made his Italy Under-21 debut in 2011 and started the 2013 European Under-21 Championship final in Israel, with the Azzurrini just falling short against Spain. Meanwhile, he’s scored two goals in 45 appearances for the senior side. His first game for the Azzurri came in a friendly against France in 2012, but he really started to establish himself in the Italy setup in the run-up to Euro 2016, where he played as a starter. He might have also been a key figure at Euro 2020 if it wasn’t for the injury he picked up in the Azzurri’s opening match against Turkey. He did, however, recover in time to feature in the final minutes of the final against England at Wembley. Now, he’s ready for a new chapter with the Rossoneri.

Photo via acmilan.com